My only complaint is the "cash only" concept. Â I'm a debit card girl so I tend to pass over Mag Bar for something a little more accommodating. Â That being said, they have an awesome jukebox in whose selection I tend to get lost. Â The pool area is so cool and the outdoor seating is great. Â The bartenders and patrons alike are always friendly and talkative. Â What I like most about dive bars is the eclectic and carefree environment. Â You can be whoever you want to be in Mag Bar as long as you aren't rude. Â If you are in the area, stop in. Â They will be glad you did.
Review Source:I've walked in in a tuxedo, and PJs, and no one has said a word. Â The people there are open minded, the conversations eclectic, and the drinks are made to your specs, if you ask. Â Hell, they will even put a pot of coffee on if you ask nice. Â I've even brought my mother in there a few times. Â And my daughter. Â
Absolutely the worst bathrooms in Louisville. Â So don't go there if you want to use them.
I used to frequent this place quit a bit over the past 15 years, but it is no longer the same place. I have been to my share of dive bars. I love dive bars. I go out of my way to find places like this. It is my natural habitat. That is why I don't understand the draw of this place now.
Be prepared, the entire staff is way cooler than you. If they are not ignoring you at the bar, they are hating on making you a drink. It seems the ladies have a little better luck at the bar. Maybe I should start showing my man boobs.
They have a great jukebox, but you will never hear your song. Either the hipsters pump $50 dollars worth of music at a time or it is just controlled by the bartender.
The last time I was there is smelled horrible, the bathroom looked like the one in the movie Trainspotting, the pool tables were beat up, and there was not a straight pool stick in the house.
If you are into the new hipster movement, you may like this place. I prefer to give my money to a place with good people, a good waitstaff, and a good bartender. If you want a great dive bar experience, give Third Street Dive or Spring Street Bar & Grill a try.
NYC is full of dive bars, but very few can match the effortless dirty charm of Louisville's Mag Bar. Â It's dark, it's dingy, and the pool tables are shoddy, but the flourscent lights are welcoming and the cheap, strong drinks are calling you home (or, as it were, far, far away from home).
I know my mother warned me not to, but I love you Mag Bar.
Now this is a Dive Bar! Very chill and unassuming bar with an eclectic crowd, drink options, and decor. Love it for some good old fashioned day drinking.
That being said, it is also a dive bar bathroom. One stall. Always a line. It's dingy. But hell, I can go in there sober without being disturbed, and there was even sufficient tp, so I'm going with a win here.
Tip: Bloody Marys here rock. Also, the Un Fair the same weekend as the famous St James Art Fair is here. Fantastic stuff, much cheaper.
The Mag Bar remains very near and dear to my heart for a few reasons: One, it served as my neighborhood bar during my grad school days, and many nights were spent procrastinating there with friends (I am great at picking out jukebox songs, but horrible at darts). Â Two, it served as the spot for one of my most successful dates (although if you saw the place you'd never know why..."romantic" is not a word I would use to describe it!). And three, the many years of visiting the Mag on Christmas night with my sister and company is hands down my favorite family tradition. Â Drunken hilarity always ensues, and even when I'm feeling the need for deep reflection, the graffiti-filled bathroom walls serve as a mecca for meaningful phrases and soulful words of wisdom. Â The bartenders even double as doctors--I once complained of heartburn at the bar after consecutive nights of holiday drinking, and the bartender was kind enough to mix me a vanilla vodka and sprite on the house, which cured it right up! Â You never know what will happen during (or after) a visit to the Mag Bar, but that's all part of the fun.
Review Source:This is a dive bar. The real deal. Not a theme bar trying to be a dive bar. Â You can expect just what the name implies. Cheap drinks, Earthy aromas. In recent years a backyard has been added.
On the downside, the low budget atmosphere here is real, and is easily reflected in the care and design of the bathrooms.
This venue has gone through changes in the past, including the addition of live music. Previously known for it's amazing juke box, the live music seems like a natural addition.
A note to those headed here: Cash only. No table service.
I was alone in Louisville for one night (a Wednesday) and the reviews below convinced me that this was the place to go. Â Mag was full of locals, mostly young people of varying sexualities and levels of hip. Â The bartenders were friendly and quick, there were at least 6 people behind the bar at all times, an absurd amount for this Brooklyner who rarely sees 2 tending. Â At first no one talked to me, most were absorbed within their own groups, or they were not sure what to do with the sorta outta place girl who came in by herself and quickly ordered a beer and a shot followed by a beer and a shot, or they were too busy dancing on top of the bar to giveafuck about anything going on around them. Â I did make a few friends after awhile and stayed till closing for no real reason except that I was fully entertained watching the dance floor, playing a private game of "tranny or not?", and filling up on cheap beer while I could. Â Probably not most's idea of a great night in Kentucky, but it worked for me.
Review Source:I had a couple glasses of bourbon and enjoyed live music at Magnolia Bar and Grill while passing through Louisville last night.
The "mag bar" as locals call it, seems well known in Louisville for its live music and hipster atmosphere. Â A crowd of people lingered outside. I must admit, I felt unsafe while walking down the street to the bar. Â There were cops everywhere, likely for good reason. Â A pickup truck was stopped in the middle of a street yelling obscenities at an apartment complex... It's definitely not a classy bar (West Side) in a romantic part of town if that's what you're looking for. Â
Nevertheless, the keep was attentive, the bourbon was a couple dollars cheaper than I'm used to, and the folk band put on a good show. Â No complaints.
I didn't need that last bourbon and soda, but not getting really drunk at my old neighborhood bar on a brief trip to Lou seemed out of the question. Oh, Mag Bar, I miss the days when you were only a staggering walk home. I miss your amazing punk jukebox that reminds me of the safety pin days of my youth. I miss your strong pours, your atrocious bathrooms, your cranky pool tables.
If dives make you uncomfortable, if you can't stand punk or metal, if you need a fancy cocktail, skip the Mag Bar. Leave it for the lovers like me!
Mag Bar has definitely become the place for all hipsters to go every Wednesday night. But I cannot be a hypocrite because every now and then I show up there on a Wednesday night due to the fact that I know the bartenders working and get free drinks.
The environment is completely laid back, the juke box has a great selection, there are 3 pool tables, and it is a pretty spacious place.
One very notable detail is that you can still smoke inside even after the smoking ban! This is very convenient in the winter.
Quite a friendly dive bar; they even bust out a popcorn machine for everyone to enjoy free, delicious popcorn.
Truly a fantastic dive bar!
Initially some may not want to hang out here.. but if you do, it's a treasure. Â You'll find good people (interesting people really), great beers and the best jukebox I've heard in a long time.
Fantastic Derby experience... brings you down to earth after the hoopla of 4th street... which is fun but not low key.
My girlfriend and I loved this place when we visited this summer. A great blue collar dive bar with an eclectic crowd. We spent most of the night out in the courtyard, but it the pool tables seemed to be a big draw. The people there were very friendly and happy to talk to "outsiders." Â A great place to relax after a long day of doing the tourist thing.
Review Source:Look in the dictionary or encyclopedia for "Dive Bar" and you will find the Mag Bar listed. Â When I lived in Old Louisville, it was quite frequent to find me there more often than at home. Â You will find the same people there day in and day out...yes, plenty of regulars. Â You can typically tell the outsiders by the way the ask for a menu. Â A what?!!? Â How many years has been since they last served food? Â Expect to mocked and ridiculed for asking for a menu. Â
If you are seeking to down several drinks and not break the bank, this would be a good place to go. Â Their bourbon and water is consists of a "splash of water" and never watered down. Â
There is always some great playing on the JukeBox. Â Don't even think about playing some pop crap on there. Â If you are lucky, you might be able to squeeze in between others to play some pool. Â I would hate to think how much money I spent on the pinball machines over the years. Â
If you are picky about clean restrooms...HA HA HA HA.....
PS: Â To all of the home owners on 2nd Street, I am really sorry for all the times I peed in your bushes or slept on your porch because I was too drunk to make it home.
I can't believe how high the ratings are for this place.
I'm not sure why they call this place a grille, because they certainly don't serve food of any kind. Â If they did, I definitely would avoid eating it.
It's a dive in the worst of ways. Â Poorly lit with sagging seats (if you like springs in your butt) and a cockroach problem, the Mag looks more like a condemned property than a bar. Â The bartenders are frequently rude, the patrons are frequently on coke, and the drinks, while relatively cheap, are not the cheapest in town (if they were, I think I could tolerate the atmosphere more readily). Â The crowd there is rowdy and while I've only been there a handful of times, I've seen the cops called at least three of them.
Parking is also a nightmare.
Try Cahoots for a good dive bar. Â It's also a dive, but it's less crowded, the drinks are cheaper, it's better lit, and it has fabulous food.
Funny, I never even noticed grill was part of the name...it certainly is not. But I have been lucky enough to be there on a Thursday night to snag some pizza. Less lucky when I've had to use the bathroom, which is seriously a public health hazard. I don't understand why we have kitchen inspectors, but no bathroom inspectors. Anyway, it obviously doesn't keep me from going. I like it for pool in the back room and the good selection of music on the juke box.
Review Source:There is no food here and you wouldn't want to eat it if there was.Though they do order in Pizza for the patrons on Thursdays.
Gross bathrooms and cheap drink specials. Louisville's premier "dive". Â When I bring touring musician friends in on a week night where there's dollar beers or else $2 well drinks they are very amused and very happy to be able to get drunk on one $20 bill, usually with change left!
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